The tribes and castes of the North-Western Provinces and Oudh, Volume 1 (of 4)Crooke, William
History
The tribes and castes of the North-Western Provinces and Oudh, Volume 1 (of 4)
Crooke, William
Caste -- India -- History; Hindus -- India; Tribes -- India -- History
[Sub-divisions.] 2. Mr. Growse calls the Ahiwâsis “a Brâhmanical or
rather pseudo-Brâhmanical tribe,” and notes that they have as many as
seventy-two sub-divisions, two of the principal of which are called
Dighiya and Bajrâwat. [155] These gotras are exogamous, and a man
cannot marry in the gotra of his mother or grandmother; he may marry
two sisters. The only important gotra mentioned in the Census returns
is the Bhorak, of Bareilly.
[Tribal council.] 3. They have local tribal councils (panchâyat), with
hereditary chairmen (chaudhari), which deal with matters affecting the
caste, and punish offenders by fine or excommunication.
[Widow marriage, etc.] 4. Widow marriage, the levirate, concubinage,
and polyandry, are all prohibited.
[Marriage.] 5. The marriage customs are of the ordinary Hindu type.
[Religion.] 6. The tribal deities are Bhagwân and Dâûji. The temple of
Dâûji is at Baldeo, in the Mathura District. Mr. Growse notes that “The
temple garden was once a well planted grove. It is now a dirty,
unsightly waste, as the Pandas have gradually cut down all the trees
for fire-wood without a thought of replacing them. It is also asserted
to be a common practice for the younger members of the clan, when they
see any devotees prostrate in devotion before the god, to be very
forward in assisting them to rise and leading them away, and to take
the opportunity of despoiling them of any loose cash or valuable
ornaments that they can lay their hands upon. It is believed that
thefts of this kind are frequent; though the victim generally prefers
to accept the loss in silence, rather than incur the odium of bringing
a charge, that there might not be legal evidence to substantiate,
against a professedly religious community.” [156] Among the minor gods
Gangaji is worshipped on the Somwati Amâwas, or when the new moon
appears on a Monday. Hanumân is worshipped every Tuesday and Saturday.
They make pilgrimages to the shrine of Saubhari Rishi, already
mentioned. Their priests are Brâhmans of the Gaur, Sanâdhya and
Gujarâti tribes. Their chief festivals are the Diwâli, Dasahra, and
Holi. At the Diwâli the houses are cleaned, Lakshmi is worshipped, and
illuminations are made. On the Dasahra arms and horses are ornamented
and worshipped, and gifts are given to Brâhmans, who present blades of
barley. At the Salono, rice is cooked and alms given to Brâhmans, who
tie amulets round the wrists of their clients.
[Oaths.] 7. They swear by the Ganges, Jumna, and Baldeoji.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account